As counting began for the 2024 Maharashtra and Jharkhand Assembly elections on Saturday, the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance surged ahead early, crossing the halfway mark by 10 AM and leading in 172 of 288 seats in Maharashtra, while the opposition MVA alliance, comprising Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and NCP (SP), trailed with 47 seats, according to initial trends.
Mahayuti Alliance Leads With Strong Showing
In the early phase of counting, the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena was leading in 53 seats, while the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) secured 33.
The BJP, as the dominant force in the Mahayuti, led in 100 seats, followed by the Rashtriya Yuva Swabhiman Party (RYSWP), which has one seat in the tally.
These early figures suggest a strong performance by the alliance, which includes the BJP, Shiv Sena, and NCP.
With the alliance’s success in these initial trends, the BJP is likely to retain its prominent position in Maharashtra politics.
MVA Alliance Trails Amidst Tight Contest
On the other side, the MVA alliance, which had hoped to mount a strong challenge to the BJP-led coalition, has seen a slower start.
The Nationalist Congress Party – led by Sharad Pawar (NCP-SP) – is leading in 12 seats, Congress in 17 seats, and the UBT Sena in 18 seats.
Additionally, the Samajwadi Party (SP), another ally in the MVA, has captured two seats.
Smaller parties like the Jan Surajya Shakti (JSS), Peasants and Workers Party of India (PWPI), and Swatantra Bharat Paksha (SBP) have made early inroads, with JSS leading in three seats, PWPI in two, and SBP in one.
Meanwhile, these smaller factions will likely play a critical role in supporting the MVA alliance, potentially altering the dynamics as the counting progresses.
Turnout & Voter Engagement Highlighted
The election saw a significant turnout of over 66% in Maharashtra, a rise from 61% in the 2019 elections, signaling increased voter participation.
Both the Mahayuti and MVA alliances are interpreting this surge as a positive sign of support for their respective campaigns.
S Chockalingam, State Chief Electoral Officer stated, “The Election Commission of India gave significant focus, attention, and time to Maharashtra this time. Each strategy was conceptualised and implemented with high precision. This resulted in a significant addition to the voter list between the Parliament election and the current election. Efforts were made to ease voting, especially in places like Mumbai, where there were challenges during the Parliament elections. This time, everyone appreciated the arrangements.”
He also commended the nearly 6 lakh election officials who helped facilitate a smooth voting experience.
Bypolls Across 15 States Add To The Election Stakes
In addition to the Maharashtra and Jharkhand Assembly elections, voters cast their ballots in bypolls across 48 assembly seats and two Lok Sabha seats in 15 states.
Notably, in Uttar Pradesh and Wayanad, Kerala, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra made her electoral debut, adding further intrigue to these contests.
Also Read: Counting Underway For 2024 Assembly Elections In Maharashtra & Jharkhand; Bypolls Across 15 States
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